A new day arrived and the mood hanging around the Valuer household was still tense. All the staff were under stress knowing every tiny movement of theirs is observed and criticized by the man of the house. Charles Valuer looked more cranky than he did before. Having skipped breakfast in a rush he waited for Amelia to join him without her guest.
With his wife and daughter he sat at the table Ash was left out Amelia knowing the topic will be about him. Amelia playing with the hem of her skirt nervously hated this more than her mom. The mother knowing Amelia's affection rubbed on her shoulder. She will certainly make it up to the boy later granting any request he wants. It's the least she can do for dragging him into this mess.
"So…your mother suspects the mole is not the boy you invited and I know little about. Care to explain why?"
"There's nothing to explain. I know him and he's not interested in anything here in the house." Amelia told her why Ash of all people is not it. This did not satisfy her father.
"Fine. I'll take your word for it but if it is him don't say I told you so."
Ash waited for Amelia in his room. The suspense was killing him even if he is supplied with a good breakfast. Not feeling to hungry because of Amelia being questioned by her parents he wished he was there for her. The door opening it was a nice sight to him. Amelia entered his room as she stood without her sunhat just after the porch closing the door behind her. The girl looked quite stressed out and fatigued. She huffed with a sigh hating herself for what's she's about to do.
"You're really not the mole?"
Ash took back he saw the hurt on her face. This did not come from her as he should know. Thinking her father set her up to ask him he grew more and more frustrated on how Charles was treating Amelia. He still felt hurt she asked him. With a strict look Amelia felt if she was getting pierced in her soul. Even if it was her house he's the dominant force here
"I never would do that to any of my friends. Especially you."
"Oh Ash…" She truly was right about him. He didn't care for material possessions as everything in the guest room is still in view and he has not made a single ludicrous demand from staff yet despite them being asked to be at his beck and call. Amelia asked if she could come closer and sit with him on the bed. He scooted over allowing her space. Sitting next to him she put both her hands on her knees.
"I…I just hate seeing him like this." Amelia talking about her father despite the issues he has with her career choices still loved him. Ash understood her plight but seeing the heir like this was not his favorite activity.
"So…this is your future right?"
The idea that Amelia will exhibit the same traits as her father when the business was in danger kind of scared him. Amelia still looking at her knees slowly revealed more and more about how different their family's are.
"I know the duty. It's not that I like it." Repeating what she told him when she explained the 'arranged marriage', she rather just hire a bunch of people to do those deals while she focused on her own career.
"I wish I can help you more with it."
"You have no idea." Amelia thinking it as well by just beginning to date him so her father would leave her alone on that topic. She probably had the ability to convince Ash to pretend they're dating for a time, but the least she wanted is abusing his generosity like she attempted on the cruise liner they met on. He deserves better in that regard.
"You've already doing more than you should for me. I feel like I'm not doing enough for you just pulling you along on my trips and now this." Most activities recently were mostly focused on her dealings and not Ash's. He laid a hand on her shoulder just out of instinct not even realizing he looked for close contact with her. She peeked at him as his expression just radiated compassion making her melt.
"I don't mind at all. I did come here to watch your Performances live. The first one I cheered for you may not have ended the way we wanted too but I've seen you practice for the next one and I'm sure that Princess Key is as good as yours." Having full confidence in her talents and work ethic Amelia began to cheer up more.
"And I enjoyed the figure skating show we went to and you helped me become a better dancer. The Steel type resort was great and the visit to the Fossil lab was fun."
All the things they did together were not just purely aimed at just the Performer. In some way or another Ash took the experiences and he can think of a lot more ways to waste his time not being with a Pokémon Performer like Amelia.
"This just a minor bump in the road. It's not as bad as Team Rocket stealing all the shiny Pokémon on the SS Shimmer right?"
"He's right. It can be worse." Her Pokémon more valuable than the family riches she calmed down. Amelia wanting to repay him more for putting up with her had a plan which she can hide as a date and do her experiment on him.
"Once we find him or her we'll do something you want. Fluerrh City is big and I don't think you explored it properly yet. I want to join you next time you go out. Just us."
Amelia asking him out in her own secretive way, she truly wanted to let Ash see more of her hometown. He barely scratched the surface on what it offered and how much she wanted to just go out of the Valuer household with him and with no one of the staff following her. And she's been wanting to mingle with the 'common' folk like Ash has always done. A new perspective away from her usual regal family might help her vision on other things as well.
"Wouldn't you be recognized?"
Ash still remembered the drive to the factory. In the old days he always went on foot but with her status Amelia was afraid of constant interruptions. Not to mention the fanfare when she left for her Showcase in Kiloude City gave Amelia an idea on how to walk through the streets without constantly being spoken too.
"I think I have a way around it. I'll just disguise myself."
"Kind of like Diantha then."
"The Champion?"
Ash explained that Diantha sometimes changed clothing and appearance to do normal stuff like them. The Performer thinking it must be a breeze for Diantha considering her acting ability.
"I believe I can throw something together. I have taken some acting lessons and have a big enough closet."
"I bet you can." Pikachu petted Pikachu on top his head as Amelia tilted her head.
"What's that supposed to mean?" The tone in his voice was mocking. It sounded as if he didn't believe her in that she can act.
"It didn't help you on the SS Shimmer." He smiled as her initial acting failed. Amelia blushed and puffed her cheeks flustered as she turned her head away from him and crossed her arms in annoyance.
"Yeah…well…maybe that's because…" The reason not coming out fast enough she stuttered over her words. Ash started to gain confidence of his own and it was fun to see the usually confident and self assured Amelia stammer.
"Because what?"
"Don't make me say it." Still arms crossed and with her back turned she was acting childish. Ash snickered behind her back and doubled down.
"Because I met Diantha and I think her acting is better than yours ever will be?"
"You're insufferable!" Amelia turned around in anger and yelled in his face. Her face red in a mix of anger and embarrassment Ash stared for a second finding her quite cute. Thinking to himself Amelia is more adorable then she think she is her pretty face shouldn't be scrunched like it was now. He had his fun for now.
"I'm joking. I'm sorry. You're not upset are you?"
Him apologizing with a smirk she calmed down quickly. Upset she got played again in comparison to her own failures to tug his heartstrings she easily conceded.
"Of course I'm not. Why should I be?" Her maturity returned Amelia had her normal face again. Ash got up from the bed and took a hold of her left wrist.
"We'll save it for another time. Come on. We got a mole to find. The sooner we do it the sooner we can get back that what's really important." Being pulled by his strong grip Amelia stood across him now. Giggling in his face he was just so easy to draw a smile out of her. Even after being blamed for something he did not do he kept up his attitude to her. Amelia got up with a renewed vigor as she flashed her own gorgeous and confident smile.
"My Performance training?" She guessed on what was important to them both with him getting a large grin.
"Bingo!" He pulled her to the door while still holding her wrist. Amelia loving the contact had to ask him to let go. Ash did so telling her why he was almost dragging her through her house.
"I can't wait to watch you practice again. You'll nail that finish of your act soon enough."
Ash knew she would've already done it if it wasn't for all the distractions. He truly wanted her to win the Showcase more than any competition his other friends ever entered. Again Amelia's special aura made him think weird and while he knew it was wrong to place his friends ambitions lower than hers it just happened and he couldn't do anything against it. Amelia just deserves what she worked for.
"My fanclub will be happy to hear you want me to do well in my shows. You'd fit right in with them."
He raised an eyebrow at her claim. He knows she is popular in her hometown but a fanclub seemed excessive. Amelia seeing his response tilted her head with a hand on her hip.
"Surprised I have a fanclub?" She smirked letting her own ego break out for just a second.
"No, not at all." He took a moment to think about it and smiled at her question as Amelia having her own fanclub made more than sense to him. Maybe when she'd disguise herself she can take him to some of them as he'd love to be a part of it. For now they'd get to one of the many duties Amelia has and how she hoped that if it happened again soon or more often she at least would have Ash to lean on.
Don't worry it still is on. I just felt a little ill (no not the dreaded 19) and did not have enough energy for writing. Decided to fill it with more fluff then the sequence I had planned. Will hopefully pick up the pace again now and get to the core and mystery of the mole soon.
Later.